Artificial limb



March 16, '1937. RONQWSKY 7 2,073,807

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Sept. 2, 1936 4 She ets-S'heet l INVENTOR A ATTORNEY March 16, 1937. RONOWSKY 2,073,807

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Sept. 2, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illl lelNVENTOR 7700K or/a Wsky 7 BY GML ATTORNEY March 16, 1937. F. RONOWSKY 2,073,807

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Sept. 2, 1936 4 SheetsSheet 4 \NVENTOR -7'rank Fonoms/y I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

, This invention relates to artificial limbs, and is particularly directed to an artificial leg, and the like devices.

An object of this invention is to provide an 5 artificial limb of the character described, provided with improved means for yieldingly resisting bending of the knee when walking or going up and down stairs, oronto or off a sidewalk.

A further object of this invention is to provide 10 an artificial leg of the character described, having means to permit bending of the knee to a considerable degree, as for example, when sitting down, the construction being such as to automatically render the resisting means inoperative upon 15 bending the knee more than a predetermined angle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an artificial leg of the character described, provided with improved means for bending the foot portion and flexing of the toe portions thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact and durable artificial leg of the character described, which shall, be comfortable in 25 use, easy to apply to or remove from the body, comprise comparatively few and simple parts, be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and withal, practical and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be 30 obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and

35 of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In-the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an artificial leg embodying the invention, and being a cross section on line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my improved artificial leg;

Fig. 3 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the artificial leg with the means for attaching the same to the body removed;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line B--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 11 of Fig. 3;

' bent while walking, with parts broken away to show the interior construction; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of my improved artificial leg when the wearer is in sitting position, with parts broken away and in cross section.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l designates an artificial leg embodying the invention. The same comprises a leg portion l I and a device l2 for fixing the same onto the body of the wearer. The device I2 is in the form of a garment adapted to fit about the hips of the wearer from the waist to just below the crotch. The same comprises a leather portion l3, encircling the waist and ex tending downwardly at the sides partially over the hips and being split at the front, the split portions being fastened together by a strap and buckle l4. Sheet metal plates l may be riveted to the sides of the portion 10, shaped to conform to the contour of the hips of the body. Attached to the leather portion I3 and extending downwardly therefrom, is a member ll made of fabric in the form of a pair of trunks extending downwardly to just below the crotch.

The side of the trunks H, to which the artificial leg II is to be attached, may be reinforced by a plurality of crossing elastic rubber cords Ill. The.

trunks I! have two short leg portions [9 and 2!). Attached to the bottom edge of one of the leg portions, in any suitablemanner, is an annular frustoconical shaped metallic band 2| formed with a plurality of spaced hinges 22, carrying spring pressed. clips 23, for the purpose hereinafter app ar ng.

The leg it comprises an annular frusto-conical metallic band 25 formed with an annular bead 23 at its top edge adapted to be engaged by the spring clips 23. Fixed to the inside of the band is an annular ring2l of soft rubber. The stump 28 of the wearer's leg is adapted to fit within the rubber ring 21 and project through the band 26. Fixed to the sides of the metal band 25, is a member or thigh piece 29 made of metal and having a pair of aligned downwardly and inwardly converging portions 30 and 3|, the upper ends whereof areriveted to said band as at 32.

I The portions 30 and 3! are interconnected by a Fixed to said portions 30, 3| of member 28, is a wide, frusto-conical leather strap 28a receiving the leg stump and having ends laced together as at 281). At the lower ends thereof the side portions 38, 3| oi the member 28 are formed with a pair of aligned openings 40 supporting a horizontal sleeve 4| fixed to said side portions. Screwed within the ends of the sleeve 4| are a pair of stud screws 46 and 81. Received on said sleeve and fixed thereto by screws 42 is a second sleeve 58.

Mounted on said sleeve 4 I, is a member 80, having a pair of spaced apertured fingers 8| rotatably receiving said sleeve and disposed on the inner sides of the bearings 48. The member 60 is hollow and shaped substantially to conform to the contour of the front of the leg from the knee to substantially the ankle. At the bottom thereof, the member 68 has a portion 82 conforming to the cross section of the ankle portion of the leg. Said member may be made of relatively light metal, such as aluminum, so as not to make the leg too heavy. The same is provided with an integral vertical web 63 below the knee and disposed in a plane extending from side to side.

Said web is provided with an arcuate slot 84, preferably extending from the axis of the leg to one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The portion 62 of the member 50 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending parallel fingers 68 formed with aligned openings rotatably receiving a horizontal cross pin 61, disposed in the plane of web 63, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. At the front, upper part thereof, the

member 80 is formed with a depression or socket 58, receiving a block 89 of rubber, conforming substantially to the shape of the knee and having a spherical shaped inner surface contacting the knee cap portion 35 of the member 29. Mounted on the portion 82 of the member 68, is a member 10 conforming generally to the shape of the rear of the leg from below the knee to substantially the ankle. Said member I8 may likewise be made of aluminum or other relatively light and strong material, and is fixed to the member 60 by a plurality of screws II. The upper rear portion of the member 18 is formed with a socket 12 receiving a block 13 of soft rubber, the outer surface of which conforms to the contour of the muscle at the rear of the leg. The member 10 is likewise hollow and the portion H thereof which rests on the portion 62 of the member 80 has a ball socket I5 in the upper surface thereof.

Mounted within the leg and between the members 88 and 10, is a cylinder 11, to the bottom of which there is attached a rod 18 having a ball 19 at the lower end thereof received within the socket I5. Screwed to the top of the cylinder, is a cylinder cap 80 having an axial opening 8|. On the cylinder TI is a pin 82 carrying a roller 83, disposed within the slot 84. Within the bottom of the cylinder is a block 85 of soft rubber. On said block is a. compression spring 86. Extending through the axial opening 8| in the cylinder cap 80, is a piston stem 88 carrying a piston 89 disposed within said cylinder and contacting the spring 86. At the upper end of the stem 88 is a roller 80 contacting and engaged within the stop member 52 when the leg is substantially bent.

Pivoted on the web portion 83 of the member 80 on a vertical axis, as at 95, is a lever 96 having one bifurcated arm 91 engaging the stem 88 of the piston 89, and another arm 88 provided with an upwardly extending finger 98 projecting into the slot 38 of knee cap member 35.

When the leg is straight, the piston, cylinder and connecting rod are substantially in vertical position. Slight bending movement of the knee, as when walking or mounting steps, will cause the stop member 52 to press downwardly on the roller for compressing the spring 86 and rubber block 85, which serve to yieldingly resist and absorb shock due to bending, while providing the yield necessary for the slight bending of the knee. However, should the knee be bent substantially to degrees, as for example, when the wearer sits down, the slot 38 of knee cap member 35 will cause pivotal movement of the lever 96 for swinging the piston from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. When the leg has been bent a predetermined degree, the lever will move the roller 80 off the stop 52, the roller 83 moving within the slot 64. As soon as the stop 52 clears roller 90 on the piston stem, the knee may be bent to the full 90 degrees without resistance from the piston and cylinder.

When the leg is straightened again, as for example, when the person rises from sitting position, the projection 99 will again enter the slot 38 and cause the lever to swing from the dotted to the full line positions shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, for moving the piston and cylinder to vertical position, whereby the roller 88 again moves under stop 52.

Pivoted on the cross pin 61 is a member 8 made of aluminum or other light spring material and having a portion disposed between the spaced fingers 66 at the lower end of the member 80. Fixed to the bottom of the member H0 is a block Ill made of rubber and having a shape conforming to the foot. The block I may be attached to the member 8 by means of a vertical screw H2 extending through said block and through the member H0 and engaging within a transverse threaded opening 2A in the cross pin 61. Fixed to the member H0 are a plurality of strips H3 of spring metal, each projecting into one of the toe portions Ill of the block III. Pivoted to the member H8, is a metal plate H5, conforming to the shape of the instep of the foot. A light coil compression spring 8 may be interposed between the member I I5 and the member I I 0. Interposed between the lower end of the portion 82 and the top of the member H0 are a pair of rubber blocks Ill and H8 disposed on opposite sides of the cross pin 61 respectively. Surrounding the sides and back of the ankle is a sheet metal plate H9. The member Ill may be fixed to said member H9 by transverse rivets Covering the members 60, 10, the blocks 89, 13, the member 29 and the strap 29a, is a sleeve or covering I 2| of thin flexible material, for example, rubber simulating skin. The bottom end of the member l2| overlaps the upper edge of the members H5 and H9. Said sleeve or covering I 2i may have perforations I 23 in the upper portion thereof to permit circulation of air within the leg ll.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An artificial leg comprising a thigh portion, a leg portion hinged thereto, a cylinder on one of said portions, a piston within said cylinder and having a stem projecting from said cylinder, yielding resisting means between said piston and cylinder, said other portion having means to engage the piston stem and move said piston within said cylinder upon bending of the leg, and means for disengaging the piston stem from said last mentioned means upon bending the'leg beyond a predetermined angle.

2. An artificial leg comprising a thigh portion, a leg portion pivoted thereto, a member fixed with respect to said thigh portion and having a projecting arm constituting a stop member, a rod having a ball and socket connection atone end thereof, to said leg portion, a cylinder fixed to said rod, yielding compressible means within said cylinder, a piston within said cylinder engaging said compressible means, and a stem on said piston having a roller engaging said stop.

3. An artificial leg comprising a thigh portion, a leg portion pivoted thereto, a member fixed with respect to said thigh portion and having a projecting arm constituting a stop member, a rod having a ball and socket connection at one end thereof, to said leg portion, a cylinder fixed to said rod, yielding compressible means within said cylinder, 9. piston within said cylinder en gaging said compressible means, a stem on said.

piston having a roller engaging said stop, said thigh member having an integral knee cap portion formed with an inclined slot, and a lever pivoted to said leg portion and having a projection at one end engaging within said slot, the other of end of said lever engaging said piston stem.

FRANK RONOWSKY. 

